A gang held the families of two Northern Ireland bank officials hostage for
24 hours before stealing about 20 million pounds ($39 million) in one of
Britain's biggest robberies, police said on Tuesday.

The employees were forced to hand over the money from a cash center at the
headquarters of Northern Bank in central Belfast after close of business on
Monday by raiders who had taken over their homes on Sunday night.

Northern Bank is Northern Ireland's largest retail bank and is owned by
National Australia Bank.

A gang held the
families of two Northern Ireland bank officials hostage for 24 hours
before stealing more than $39 million in one of Britain's biggest ever
robberies, police said on December 21, 2004. The Northern Bank head office
in Belfast is seen in this December 14 file photo.
[Reuters/file]

"Two families have suffered great
trauma as a result of the actions of these criminals," Northern Ireland's
Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kinkaid told reporters.

Police said they were investigating whether one of Northern Ireland's
paramilitary groups, which remain heavily involved in crime despite observing
cease-fires in the province's long-running sectarian conflict, had been involved
in the raid.

"Clearly this is a well-organized crime, there's absolutely no doubt about
that," said Kinkaid.

"Whether it is in any way associated with paramilitary groups in Northern
Ireland, we haven't sufficient information for us to make any assessment on that
at present."

BIGGEST ROBBERY

Britain's biggest robbery was a 1987 break-in at a safe deposit center in
London when 60 million pounds was stolen. In 1983, 26 million pounds was taken
in a raid on a Brinks-Mat vault at London's Heathrow airport.

National Australia Bank said in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange
about 20 million pounds was stolen.

"The theft is covered by self-insurance, and as such, National Australia Bank
... will bear the impact of any losses arising from the theft," it said.

The theft was not expected to have any material impact on the sale of the two
banks to Danske, National Australia Bank said.

"Most importantly, all staff involved in the theft are safe and are receiving
appropriate care and support by Northern Bank and the police in Northern
Ireland," it said.

Last month, a report from an independent cease-fire monitoring body said
paramilitary groups from the Protestant and Roman Catholic communities in
Northern Ireland were involved in major crimes, including extortion, smuggling
and bank robbery.

Paramilitaries were blamed for several high-profile robberies earlier this
year, including cases that involved hostage-taking.